First things first: don’t panic! It’s natural to feel a pit in your stomach and a sense of existential dread the first time you notice gray hairs on your face. You’re getting older. That perfect, unsalted mane is no more. Now, you have to decide what to do. Will you still be attractive with a graying beard?
Salt and pepper beards are a definite turn-on. Countless studies and “sexiest man” lists prove that a mature-looking hirsute male is categorically hot. You should view your graying facial hair as a welcome opportunity to renew your beard for a new era in your life.
To illustrate and illuminate all things salt and pepper, let’s dig into the research and its real-world implications. Then, we can explore how to craft the perfect two-toned beard.
The Meaning of a Gray Beard
To begin, why don’t we unpack the symbolic meaning of a graying beard, both the positive and negative.
It’s normal to resist the idea of white facial hair. It is often the first sign of gray hair a man notices, and it evokes visions of Gandalf and Dumbledore. In January 2021, when it momentarily looked like New England and New Orleans might face off in the Super Bowl, baby-faced veteran quarterback Tom Brady took to Twitter to rib his equally-long-in-the-tooth counterpart Drew Brees with a doctored image of them as tired, white-bearded, senior citizens
https://t.co/kvv2dNTmHS pic.twitter.com/ND8nmGmZG7
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) January 12, 2021
But remember: gray hair denotes not just age, but also experience. Men with a little salt in their beards evoke wisdom, competence, and strength. Perhaps this is why people consider the salt and pepper beard a major turn-on.
A Scientific Fact!
A lot of research has gone into determining what people find attractive. Arguably, this isn’t the most worthwhile allocation of scientific labor in history, but, still, it has yielded some clear findings on graying facial hair.
As a whole, people think salt and pepper beards are sexy. A 2010 University of Abertay found that women view graying men as mature and wise. The women interviewed also said that men with a little gray made them feel safe.
A recent study conducted by Match.com found that 72% of women surveyed preferred a graying man to an unsalted alternative.
The term silver fox exists for a reason. There’s a natural magnetism to a man with some gray in his hair and beard, and the research bears that out.
A History of Sexy Graybeards
A body of academic research is all well and good, but we don’t live in a world of theories. Where’s the real-life evidence that salt and pepper beards are attractive?
Luckily for us, there is a three-decade-plus resource that lists the famous men that most people find attractive – it’s People Magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive” issue. It may not be scientific, but this annual honor gives some indication that silvery facial hair is sexy in the real world.
Here are some notable silver foxes from over the years:
| Sexiest Man | Salt and Pepper Fact |
| 1989 – Sean Connery | Only the fifth Sexiest Man ever named, this former 007 was rocking black-and-white facial hair when he was honored by People. |
| 1997 and 2006: George Clooney | The quintessential graying stud, Clooney has sported a salt and pepper beard many times over the years. |
| 1998: Harrison Ford | Three words: Dr. Richard Kimball. Unfortunately, he had to lose the beard to evade US Marshals. |
| 2015: David Beckham | By the time Beckham was named Sexiest Man, he had already retired from football and grown a fine silver beard. |
| 2017: Blake Shelton | Not everyone’s cup of tea, but there’s no denying the man can rock a fine salt and pepper beard. |
Obviously this is just a sampling of prominent silver beardsman. There are countless other “Sexiest Men” who have embraced salt and pepper facial hair in recent years: Bradley Cooper, Keanu Reeves, and Richard Gere, to name just a few.
And we’d be most remiss not to mention one of the most prominent silver foxes of the modern era: The Most Interesting Man in the World.
The Ratio of Salt and Pepper
If we acknowledge that salt and pepper beards are attractive, the question remains: how much salt should there be?
While there’s no such thing as a perfect ratio, it is important to aim for something consistent and symmetrical. As always, think of the profile you want to embody:
- The Mature Gentleman – A dusting of white hairs in an otherwise youthful mane. Probably enjoys a quiet tumbler of rye at an upscale bar.
- The Professor – More localized sections of gray, perhaps at the cheeks or chin. Fit for a wing-back leather armchair and a pipe.
- The Arctic Fox – The tipping point, where you see more salt than pepper. An experienced and confident man of the world.
Whichever look seems closest to your facial hair, you can do what you need to embrace it. This might mean judiciously applying some beard dye to even out the coloration. It also means carefully styling your beard for maximum attractiveness.
Styling a Graying Beard
As a general rule, salt and pepper beards look best when they are maintained and styled carefully. White hair is noticeable in darker beards, so you don’t want your facial hair going wild in all directions.
If you haven’t already, invest in some decent beard shaping tools, including:
- An electric trimmer meant for use on facial hair
- A pair of shears to snip errant hairs
- A strongly bristled beard brush
- A wooden beard comb
These tools will help you sculpt your salt and pepper pelt into something clean and symmetrical. You will also want to oil and condition your beard, as this will prevent dryness and create a lush, unifying sheen.
Not Ready for the Mature Look?
Some beardsmen’s faces go gray earlier than others. When you start noticing some silver hairs in your beard, you may not feel ready to embrace the salt and pepper look.
If that’s the case, you have a couple of options.
Firstly, you can trim away your gray if there are only a handful of telltale follicles. This might prove to be tedious and cumbersome if you have lots of white hairs in your beard. Bear in mind, also, that you’ll only find more gray the older you get.
Once you’re past the point of snipping away the salt, your only course of action is to dye your facial hair. Luckily, there are many exceptional beard dyes on the market. We have highlighted several in the past:
It’s important to match the color to your natural hair tone.
Also, you need to know when to throw in the towel when masking your salt and pepper beard. Once you start graying on top of your head, mother nature has forced your hand.
The Bottom Line
While getting older and seeing your appearance change can be unnerving, there’s no denying that salt and pepper beards are attractive. Both scientific research and popular culture reinforce this fact. You should feel confident embracing the silver fox aesthetic. Everyone gets older, and there are plenty of ways to use the process to enhance your appearance rather than detract from it.
Still curious about your options for styling your salt and pepper beard? Check out our article on shaping tools for sensitive skin.